Steam-engine valve.



LE GRAND SKINNER.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1911.

1,033,204. Patented July 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

LE GRAND SKINNER.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV} 21, 1911.

1,033,204. Patented July 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED strATns PATENT OFFICE;

LE GRAND SKINNER, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-ENGINE vALvE.

' Specification Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 23, 1912.

Application filed November 21, 1911. Serial No. 661,632.

T0 of! whom (tardy 1mm .Be it' known that I, IinlGniNn SKINNER, a. citizen off the United fitates, residing at Erie, in the county of lll'l 2lll(l State of 5 Pennsylvania, have invented certain new V cylinderlIA. aiid.,;p ro1ectin thelcylinder A.

and useful Improvements in StElUH-EllgiIlO Valve Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact-- description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to wh ch it appertains to-malee and use the same, refer- V, being luida-oto the. ronrpzilrviiig drawingspand tof th l .ters,.ofretereuce marked therepiforming part of; this specification. "Ti is" iiivention relates to steam engine valves and valvc-seats therefor and especially to that type of engine valves known as double-seat puppet valves.

The features of this invention .are hereinafter set forth and described and illustrated in the accompanying drawii'igs in which t Figure 1 isa side view in elevation of a fragmentof a steam engine cylinder with a portion of the steam-cln st wall broken away.

l ig 2 is a transverse sect'io'n'of the lower portion of the same on enlarged scale, showing the valves and valve-seats in elevation and section. Fig. 3 1s a vertical central secexhaust chamber of the engine; a a ports in the walls of the cyhnderxA,throughwhich.

steam may enter the cylihdcr from the steam cl estAE orthroujgl vhich steam may QXlIl11lt.L ,fr()1i1, t l )9 cvliude r'--A on the exhaust ptil l t.ll(i side of the laterally therefroi n' are holiow valve casings B B, (.see Figs. 2, (i, and 7), the cavities b in which coincide with and open into the ports a of 'llhese hollow casings B" and B are secured to the cylinder A by means of bolts 1) so that they can be removed and replaced when desired by -ren'ioving the bolts 6, the meeting surfaces valve- -body C, are three g'uides. 0' .c 6.

between the casings B and B and thecylinder A being so prepared as to form stcarntight joints therebetween whensaid parts are secured firmly together, as shown .in Fig. 2. Vertically through the Walls of these hollow casings] and BQI ipake circular openings. the one '1) through the upper wall of the casing B, beiiig larger than the opening 71' through the lower wall there of; and the opening 11 through the upper wall of the casing B being larger than the opening I) in the lower wall thereof, .the largest opening I) ni-the casing 13".,beihg smaller than the smallest opening I) in the casing B, as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The upper annular corners of each of these openings I)", 5 ,1), 1), is.

beveled or countersunk forthe )urposcof formingannular valve-scats b", r, I), and I), thereon. i

It is a well known fact 'among steam engineers that owing to variations in temperature it has been ditiicult if not. impossiblc,,t0 construct a doublc-seated'valv which will al 'ays be steam-tight under all variations of temperature. asvalves 0 this charaeter have heretofore been made. -It

therefore :11 object of the present. invention to construct a double-seated valve in which -there is provided a compensation for the expansion and contraction of the metal parts; and also to con'ipcnsate forsuch contraction and expansion when a. plurality of such valves are mountcd in tandem upon a single valve-stein. In order to overcome these ditliculties, in this improved form of double-seated valve, there is provided a .valvc body C having an annular valve sur face c-around the lower end thereof which, in conjunctionwith the annular valve-seat I) in the-casing B, is'adapted to fornra;

steam-tight. joint therewith. The intermediate portion of said valve bgd v being. of 1 need diameter to permit o f the free passage' o f stcam thercab'out. when the valve-is raised H -rmj cung from the ,lowerend of the adapted to contact witlr,the inside smtace ofathc opening Z) inth Lcasin'g B for the.

nn-pose of'accurately guiding, the valvebod to its seat up oi ig.t.he). alvc-seat bf. 'lh'e. upper end of the valve-body C- is preferably of greater diameter than the valve-seat c at the lower end of said valvebiidy, so that the steam resting thereupon upon a'single valve stem.

will overbalanee the upward thrust of the steam against the lower end of the valvebodywithin the opening b in the lower wall of the valve-ca g B, and thereby prevent the raising of .e valve-surface 0" ofi? of its seatb, by reason oithe upward thrust of the'steam on the bottom of the valve-body C.

The valve-body C is rigidly secured on a va1ve-stem D, preferably by means of an annular shoulder (l on the -valve-stem D contacting with the upper end, and a screwnut d on the valve-stem D below said valvebody C which is screwed up and tightly engages the lower end of the hub of the \'alve body C thereby preventing any movement of the valve-body upon the valve-stein 1).

Upon the valve-stem D above said who body C there is placed a valve-cover C wh ch has a depending annular valve-ring c which overlaps the annular upper edge 1r" of the valve -body C. The outer annular corner of the flange is beveled oil to form a valve-surface c, which is adapted to fit down upon the upper valve-seat b on the hollow casin joint; in eonpinction therewith. Upon the valve-stem D above the valve-cover (1 there is a collar d secured against longitudinal movement thereon so that a narrow space remains between said collar (1 and the top of the valve-cover so that when the valve-surface e on the valve-cover C contacts with its valve-seat b on the upper side of the casing B, the valvestern I) and valvebody C thereon may continue to move down ward until the annular valve-surface 0 On the lower end of the valve-body C closes down upon its valve-seat I)" on the upper annular edge of the lower opening I) in the casing B. The valve-cover (7 is provided with openings (1 tlierethrough which permits steam within the steam-chest A to press upon the upper end of the ralve-body 3 independently of the valve-ring or cover C It will therefore be seen that variations in the measurement between the upper valve-seat If and the lower valveseat b",

and between the lower valve-seat 7)" in the casing B, and the lower valve-seat 71 in the casing B, and between their relative valvesnrfaces, c and a and c antic" is compensated for by the slight movement provided for of the valvestem through the valve cover C, and throu h the valve C and valvecover C and the pressure of the steam upon the several'parts of said valves will be sutli' cient to hold the several valve-surfaces securely down upon their respective seats.

In the-drawings are shown two doubleseated valves (1 and mounted in tandem 4 ln'thiscase the valve-stem D is extended downward below the valve-body C thereon, and upon the lower end thereof is slidably mounted a B, and form a steam-tight valve-body C which is of the same form as the upper valve-body C, but of enough smaller diameter so that the annular valvesurface c-.thereon will seat upon the lower valve-seat b in the lower hollow casing B. Like the upper valve-body C the lower valve-body C is provided with guides c", which contact with the walls of the circular opening 7/ thereby to guide the valvebody C so that the annular valve-surface c thereon will seat down upon the valveseat 7/ with exactness. To limit the downward movement of the valve-stem 1) through the lower valve-body G there is provided an annular shoulder (i on the valve-stein D, and on the valve-stem D under the valve-body C there is a washer d and nut ll", so secured thereon that the dimension between the washer (F, and the an nular shoulder (i is slightly greater than. the'longitudinal dimension of the hub of the valve-body C. Upon the top of the valve-body C I place a valve-cover C", which, like the valve-cover C is provided with :1 depending annular flange 01' valvering 1:, adapted to fit over the upper end of the valve-body C, said valve-ring being provided with an annular valve-surface 0" adapted to fit down upon the valve seat b, in the hollow casing B. lhe cover C? is also provided with a central circular opening therethrough in which a sleeve D surrounding the valve-stem D and of sulficient internal d ameter to pass over, freelv, the

3 I f" annular shoulder (l with a sliding fit and contact with the upper end of the hub of the valve-body G. The yalve-cover (1 like the. upper valve-cover C is pro vided with openings C, and for the same purpose. Around the upper end of the sleeve D'- t'here is a radial collar or' flange l), the lower surface of which is slightly raised above the upper surface of the valvecover C when the lower end of the sleeve D is down upon the upper end of the hub of the valve-body C, which permits the cover l to have a slight longitudinal movement on the sleeve D so as to lift slightly oil of the upper end of the val\"e-body (7. lle tween the nut (Z on the valve stem D, and the flange IFon the upper end of the sleeve D'-, T place a spiral spring l), which operates to normally retain the valve-body (.l'lirmly down upon the washer l, which position, it is apparent is its greatest downward extension from the upper valve-body t", upon the valve-stem D, and yet permits the valve stem D to slide slightly do x vuward through the valve-body should the lower valvesurt'ace c there-m contact with the ralveseat 5 in the hollow easing B before the lower valve-surface. on' the upper 'valvcbody (l contacts with the lower valve-seat I) in the hollow valve casing ll. It will therefore be seen that in this improved valve teammate ftliere is provided compensatory incchaniiin not only between the two seats of ach t'lo'bloseated valve, but also bei the nin as and lower double seated valvesnso that each seat of each double-scated valve upon the valve-stein I), will at all times scat upon its respective valve-seat in hollow valve casings, B and B.

h ll-,Afof the steam chamber j 'iihia circular opening a utficienbd a neie "'1' permit the insertion ndivth" a v i'through of the valves )ening is closed by means G and C, which 0 of a housing comprising awertical tube E having a radial flange E with a cylindrical shoulder E on the under side thereof adapted to fit into the circular opening a in the wall of the steam chamber A? tube F, there a tube F at the lower end of 2a which is provided a radial tange. f which 1e lower. end of a screw-threadnt 1 steasii tight joint, and upon thescreweat an nipple (a I place a cap a 535 w'nich'has a. central opening which coincides with the longitudinal opening in the sleeve F, and operates to retain the sleeve F in the tube E, and the flange f thereon firmly up against the end of the nipple e. The valvestem D extends from the valves C-C upvard tl yrough the cap c and sleeve F and i nee out of the upper the interior of the in tight sliding tit. The 5 iso prov-idedwith periph- (lfwhere it passes through the coves i eei i .,'wnich grooves collect water and other lubricants, and aid in excludingthe age of steam between the valve stem the sleeve 1*.

'apent to the upper end of the sleeve F lye-stein D is reduced in diameter as z f lea ing an annular shoulder o n this reduced upper end can? I) there is a cap (l he annular shoulder ably secured thereon by an Ll means ofa hey g; the lower end of this cap oi sutlicient interim diameter to be passed 59 down over the upper end of the tube E. The ioiver cud of the cap G is provided with uppn which I place a he valve-stem and and n l pper end of said cap ex- ,tlii ll! unf t? thereis an adjustw G which is provided with a lockfor the purposel I suing the 5t: :turo above l place a vertical c vliodriform case has an internal annular flange h upper (lilltlefli which bears down upon the spring (i and an outturned radial flange lil" around the lower end there heretofore, described.

\Vithin this it lower side of the flange E up G extends up;

transverse opening or einal'ter set forth.

of by which said case may be secured down upon the flange E by means of the bolts J. which pass therethrough and into the top wall A of the steam-chamber A. Projecting from the side walls of the cylindritorm casing H are arms K, to which are pivoted levers L for operating the valve mechanism The end I of this lever extends intothe slot Gr in the cap G on the upper end of the valve-stem D wherein it engages the lower end of the adjusting screw G. It will be observed that the spring Gr within the caseH will act to force the valve-stem D downward to close the valves C and C upon the respective valveseats, and thatv to operate successfully the spring G must be of greater strength than the spring D on the'valve-stem D between the valves C and C.

For operating the lever L there is provided a valve gear similar to that shown, described and claimed in application Serial No.'6:i2,087 filed September 30, 1911, which consists of an eccentric-rod M, crank M, rock-shaft M and rock-lever cam N which engages the end Z of the lever L, which, when the curved cam surface n engages the end Z of the lever L causes the arm Z to rise upward on the cap G and valve-stemD thereby compressing the spring Cr and raising the valves C and C thereby permitting steam to enter into the ports a a of the cylinder A, through the circular openings Z)" and b .in the hollow valve casing B, and b and b in the hollow valve casing B.

From the foregoing the construction and operation of these improved engine valves is so obvious thatfurther description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Therefore having fully shown and de scribed this invention so as to enable others to construct and utilize the, same what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i y

1. In a double-seat engine valve a valvebody, an annular valve surface around the lower end thereof, and a valve-ring telescopically mountedon the upper end of said valve-body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a double-seat engine valve a valvebody, an annular valvesurface around the lower end thereof, aQ alije-ring telescopically mounted on the uppeiyend of said valve-body, a valve-stein r gidly scrurcd in saidv valve-body, and IiieansQon said valve stem to limit the movemeut o f said telescopic valve-ring, substantially, a's and for the pur pose set forth.

3.. In a valve bination of a valve-stein, idly secured on said valve-stem, an annular valve surface around the lower end of said valve-body, a valve-cover slid-ably mounted on said valve-stem above said valve-body, a

for steani engines the com' valve-body rigde 'iending annular flange on said cover telel ranged on an axial line vertically transverse seopieally mounted upon the upper end of said valvebody, and an annular valve-surface around the lower edge thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'1'. In a donbleseat engine valve, a valvestem, a valve-body rigidly secured the-reon;

guides depending from the lower end of said valve-body, an annular valve surface around the lower end of said valve body, a valve-cover havingopenings in the top thereof and provided with a limited movement on said valve-stem, an annular dependin valve ring on said cover telescopically mounted on the upper end of said valvehody, and an annnlai valve surface around the lower edge of said valve-ring, substantially as and' for the purpose set forth.

5. In an engine a fiattcnedhollow casing adapted to be roinovably secured against the side of the cylinder within the steam-chest so that the cavity therein communicates with the cylinder-ports. and having valve-seats,

engine cylinder within the steam-chest so as to cover and communicating with the portsof the engine-cylinder, substantially as set forth.

7. In an engine a flattened hollow casing adapted;to be bolted against the side of the cylinder within the steam-chest'sothat-the cavity [herein will communicate with the cylinder parts, and having valve-seat openings in the opposite flattened walls thereof,

substantially as set forth.

,8. In an-engme-valve mechanism, an en- 'gine cylinder having port openings, a flat .ineehanisni of a flattened hollow easing adapted to l)t,-.Xt.lll0\'2l bly secured to an engine cylinder w thin the steam-chest so that i the cavity therein will communicate with a cylinder port, valve-seat 0 enings in the opposite flattened "walls t ereof, and a doublevseat valve adapted to seat down upon each of said valve-seat openings, substantially as set forth 10. The combination in an engine-valve mechanism of two or more valve-seats armoveinent of said valve-rin to a radius of the engine cylinder, a valvestem, one or more double-seat valves mounted in tandem upon said valve-stem so as to 1 seat down upon all of said valve-seats 'in 'unison, and mechanism on sa 1d valve-stem between the valves thereon adapted to compensate for expansion and contraction .in the cooperative parts of said valve mechanism,

substantially as set forth.

11. The combination in a steam engine valvemechanism of a. series of pairs of valve-seats arranged on the same gaxial line, a valve-stem, two or more double-seat valves mounted in tandem on said valve-stem and adapted to seat down upon each pair, of said valve-seats, one of said valves being rigidly secured to said valve-stem, and the rest of said valves having longitudinal movement on said valve-stem, a spring on said valvestem, and means on said valve-stem adapted to press said spring against the movable valve ion said valve-stem, substantiallyms set forth.

12. The combination in a steam engine valve mechanism of a series of valve-seat: arranged in pairs on the same axial line, a valve stem, 8. valve-body rigidly secured on said valve-stem, an annular valve-surface on the lower end thereof adapted to seat down upon the lower one of one pair of said valve-seats, an annula valve-ring telescopically mounted on' the upper end of said valve-body, an annular valve surface on the lower edge of said valve-ring adapted to seat down upon the upper one of said pair of valve-seats, a stop on. said valve-stein above said valve-body adapted to limit the on said valvebody, another valve-body s idably mounted on said valve-stem, an annular valve surface around the lower end of said slidable valve body adapted to seat down upon the lower one of another pair of valve-seats, means on said valve-stem to limit the movement of said slidable valve-body thereon, a sleeve on 

